At just 21 years old, Raphael Lim’s eyes light up when discussing sustainability and Singapore’s energy future. “I’m passionate about greening Singapore’s energy mix and being part of global discussions on the regional power grid,” he says, his enthusiasm unmistakable.

Currently a first-year mechanical engineering student at Imperial College London as an Energy Market Authority (EMA) scholar, Raphael is already charting a course to transform his goals into reality.

For all his quiet confidence today, Raphael is quick to point out that his interests in energy wasn’t an overnight revelation. Instead, it was shaped by small, everyday encounters – little sparks that over time grew into a steady flame.

It started with a simple gift when Raphael was four—a wind turbine figurine his father brought home. As Raphael got older, his father explained how these turbines could be used to harness energy. This early encounter planted the first seeds of understanding how energy can be generated using nature’s forces.

Another memory that stayed with him for years came during primary school. On Total Defence Day, his class went without lights and fans, leaving everyone sticky, uncomfortable and struggling to focus, but the lesson hit home.

“I realised how lucky we are to live our day-to-day lives without needing to worry about electricity,” Raphael explained. “It showed me how important having reliable and resilient energy systems are! When energy systems work well, you don’t think of them at all.”

By junior college, Raphael’s interest in sustainability and energy grew even stronger. He joined the student group, Green Council, and championed multiple environmentally friendly initiatives on campus. He also organised a virtual conference that brought together students from various schools to discuss environmental challenges.

As Raphael began planning for university, these formative experiences helped him better understand what he was really interested in.

“I knew I wanted to work in sustainability and contribute to Singapore,” he said. “Energy stood out because no economy can function without it. Hospitals, transport systems and data centres – everything depends on energy.”

That perspective led him to the Energy Market Authority. Sitting at the intersection of energy security, sustainability and market regulation, EMA’s mission aligned closely with the way Raphael had come to understand energy and sustainability. When the opportunity arose, taking up the EMA scholarship felt like a natural next step.

This was further confirmed during the scholarship interview stage. Candidates were assigned different energy sources and asked to debate how a country transitioning from liquid natural gas should reshape its energy mix. Raphael was tasked with advocating for solar energy.

As the discussion unfolded, it became clear that no single energy source could sustain the country on its own.

“That was the point of the exercise,” Raphael said. “Not to defend a single energy source, but to realise that it’s a combined effort, and we need to maintain our grid capabilities even while decarbonising.”

Now studying mechanical engineering in London, he is building a strong technical foundation while daily interactions with classmates from all around the world broaden his perspective on how different countries approach energy challenges.

“I’ve learned that energy solutions are very context-specific,” he explained. “They depend on factors like geography, access to natural resources, demand profiles and even whether a country has large data centres.”

It is not all work and no play, though. Beyond his studies, he has embraced university life through the Singapore Society and Caving Society. He also plays sports and is making the most of being in London to travel around Europe.

Although still early in his journey, Raphael looks forward to deepening his exposure to the energy sector through internships with EMA and potentially the International Energy Agency.

Reflecting on the path ahead, he is pragmatic about the nature of public-sector work. “I know that policy outcomes don’t appear overnight,” he said. “But the impact is meaningful. If you care about contributing to Singapore’s energy sector in the long term, the EMA scholarship is a valuable opportunity.”